Surgical snare



1 June 5, 1951 T. A. KRIVANEK ET AL 5 5 SURGICAL SNARE Filed Feb. 4,1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Fiy. 5 m?) /3 77a. KWM

W ATTORNEY June 1951 T. A. KRIVANEK ET AL 2,555,550

SURGICAL SNARE Filed Feb. 4, 1948' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi 7 I 22 I NVENTORSBY 7. WM

ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1951 OFFICE SURGICAL SNARE Thomas A. Krivanekand Roy T. Krivanek, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application February 4, 1948,Serial No. 6,126

4 Claims. 1

The invention relates to surgical appliances and particularly tocurettes or snare devices such as are used for the removal of foreignparticles from the eye or from wounds.

Instruments for the purpose stated have heretofore been made which werefitted with a looped filiform body of metal, horse hair or othermaterial and such appliances have met with considerable favor.Instruments have also been provided having a permanent magnet forremoval of magnetizable metal particles from the eye or a wound.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument havinga filiform loop snare formed and mounted in an improved manner both withrespect to the functioning of the instrument in use and with respect toits manufacture.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide afiliform loop type of appliance in which the loop is so mounted as tohave marked freedom of movement in relation to its support while stillsubject to effective control by the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a curette which combinesthe advantages of both the loop snare and the magnet snare and has asubstantially non-magnetic enclosure for the magnet.

With the above and other incidental objects in view the inventionconsists in certain forms, arrangements and combinations of parts whichwill be exemplified and explained by reference to specific preferredconstructions shown in the accompanying drawings and thereafter definedin the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an appliance embodying the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged longitudinal axial sections of the left endand right end, respectively, of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal axial section, also on an enlarged scale,showing a modified form of the appliance.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary axial sections showing on an enlargedscale three alternative forms of supporting means for the filiform loopof the appliance which can be used in lieu of the support structureshown in Figs. 2 and 6.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the loop and its immediate supportingmember of the form shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a right end view of the structure shown in Fig. 10.

Referring first to the form of device shown in Figs. 1-5, which isintended for professional use, I is a tubular metal body which is fittedat one end with a plug 2. The plug 2 is preferably formed intermediateits ends with an annular flange 2a and is knurled at 22) on linesparallel to the axis of the plug. Thus formed the plug is easily given aforced fit in tube I without the need of forming the mating dimensionsof the tWo parts with a high degree of accuracy. The plug 2 also isformed with an axial bore 20 to receive a supporting member 3 for asnare loop generally designated by the numeral 4. The support 3 isformed with anaxial bore 3b and with an external longitudinally knurledsurface 30 at one end of a diameter to be forced into the bore 20 tobring the shoulder 30!. of part 3 into firm engagement with the adjacentend of plug 2, the knurled surface 30 having the same purpose as that at21). The support 3 is preferably tapered externally as shown and has itsbore reduced in diameter at its tapered end.

The filiform loop 4 is formed from a section of fine stainless steelwire (a diameter of .005 being suitable) by folding the wire upon itselfto form the rounded loop bend 4a and straight arm sections 4b, 4b. Theends of the arms 4?) are bent outward at 40 over the rounded inner endof the support 3 and clamped between the said support and the wall ofthe bore 20 of plug 2 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The ends of the arms torest between ridges of the knurled surface 3c which, in assembly, areswaged against the arms to secure them in position without the necessityof highly accurate fitting of the parts. The bore surface of plug 2 andthe inner end of support 3 thus serve to tightly hold the inner ends ofthe loop arms ib. In the fabricating assembly of the three parts 2, 3and 4 the folded loop l has its arms 4b inserted through the bore ofsupport 3, and a fixture, in the form of a rod having a cross-sectionshaped to fit within the loop bend 4a is passed through the loop tomaintain the form of the bend 4a while the ends of the arms 4b are bentaround the inner end of support 3 and the assembled loop and supportforced into the bore 20 until the shoulder 3a of the support 3 firmlyengages the end of plug 2. This forcing operation tends to draw the loopbend 4a into the bore of support 3 and distort the loop but that isprevented by the use of the fixture rod. While the inner ends of theloop arms 4b are fixedly supported as above described, their outer endsare loosely supported by the front end of support 3 for limited lateralmovement in its bore.

To provide protection for the exposed part of the loop, which is highlyflexible, the supporting plug 2 is threaded to receive a cap generallydesignated by the numeral 5. The cap comprises a tubular section 6threaded at one end to engage plug 2 and a plug 1 which closes the otherend of section 6. The plug is knurled at la to provide for a readilyestablished forced fit in the tube. The

plug 1 is also formed with a shoulder 1b to engage and secure to the capa spring clasp 8 so that the instrument can conveniently be carried inthe pocket of the user.

The instrument is also provided with a permanent-magnet snare. For thispurpose one end of the tubular body I is provided with a closure plug 9which may be identical in form and size with the plug 2. In the axialbore of plug 9 is 'mounted a permanent magnet If) of rod form,

the magnet being secured by a forced fit in the plug and having itsexposed part formed with a tapered and rounded end Ilia, the tapered androunded surfaces of the magnet being smoothly polished for safeengagement with the ball or lid tissues of the eye. Plug 9 is fittedwith a removable screw cap I I to tightly enclose the magnet.

All parts of the instrument are formed of metal and preferably all ofthe parts are formed of stainless steel with the exception of the clasp8 which may be made of brass and chromium plated for greater ease offabrication. The magnet I0 is preferably formed of steel such as thatmarketed by General Electric Company under the name Alnico. Thismaterial has the noncorrodible characteristics of stainless steel and amagnet formed of the material, after an initial drop of about 10% of itsmagnetism, retains the balance practically indefinitely. The plug 9 andcap II are preferably made of stainless steel of a non-magnetizablevariety. In fact all of the stainless steel parts of the instrumentpreferably are made of such material. The reason for this is to minimizemagnetization of the enclosing and supporting structure of the magnetand prevent troublesome attraction of external magnetiz able objects. 7

In the use of the instrument the functioning of the snare loop 4 isdistinctive because of its formation and the manner in which it issupported. That is to say the straight arm portions 4b of the loop arefixedly secured to the supporting structure only at the inner end of thepart 3 and are loosely supported in the reduced portion of the bore 31)adjacent the exposed loop bend 4a. Thus mounted or supported the loopportion 4a, because of possible limited movement of the straight arms 4bwithin the bore 31), is

allowed very considerable freedom for bending and twisting movement(under manual manipulation by the user) to facilitate conformation ofthe loop to the surface of the eyeball or eye lid or wound surface beingexplored. At the same time the reduced section of bore 3b limits themovement of the loop structure to such an extent that the exposed partof the loop can be magnet, or vice versa, in the removal of aforeignbody.

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 6 a rod-like body I2,which may be formed of suitable plastic material, has an axial recess into receive a knurled and flanged plug l3 of the same character as theplugs 2 and 9 of the instrument first described. Plug I3 is preferablyformed of metal and in the interest of ease of working and low cost maybe made of suitable aluminum alloy. The plug 13 is formed with an axialbore I3b to receive a loop support I4 which also may be formed ofaluminum alloy and is otherwise of the same character as the support 3in Fig. 1. '15 is a snare loop preferably formed of stainless steel andmounted in the manner described in connection with Fig. 1. To encloseand protect the snare loop the instrument is provided with a screw capit preferably formed of plastic material.

An instrument such as that shown in Fig. 6 functions in the same manneras the loop section of the instrument first described but is morecompact and can conveniently be carried in pocket or handbag foremergency use.

It will be appreciated that instruments such as those shown anddescribed are susceptible of easy sterilization throughout by usualtechniques with steam, boiling water or alcohol and that aftersterilization the working parts of the instruments (loop and magnet) areeffectively maintained in sterile condition by tight enclosure withinthe protecting caps.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 7 the plug 22, supportingmember 23 and loop 24 are substantially the same as the parts 2, 3 and4, respectively, in the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Here,however, the means for tightly holding the inner ends of the loop armscomprise a flanged sleeve 25 which is forced into the bore of member 23to tightly clamp the two arms of the loop between the parts 23 and 25.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 has a plug 32 that is the same as plug2 of Fig. 2 and its support 33 and loop 34 are generally similar to thecorresponding parts of the Fig. 2 construction. However, the support 33has the inner end of its bore enlarged to receive a disc 35, preferablyof metal, which serves when forced into the bore of support 33 totightly secure the ends of loop 34 to the inner end of support 33. Whendisc 35 has been forced into position the relatively thin wall at theinner end of support 33' is crimped inward at 33a to secure the disc inposition.

Finally, in the construction shown in Figs. 9,

'10 and 11, a plug member 42 is provided having a somewhat deeper bore42a to receive still another. form of supporting member 43 for snareloop 44. Support 43 has a somewhat greater length and a bore 43a of lessdiameter than do the corresponding supports of the other construc tions.The purpose of the added length of sup port 43 is to provide at theinner end thereof a section 431) of reduced outer diameter andrelatively thin Wall which can be flattened, as indicated in Figs. 10and 11, to tightly hold the ends In all of the various forms ofconstruction, it will be observed, the supporting structure for the loopmember serves to tightly hold the arms of the loop at mutually adjacentpoints remote from the loop bend and to loosely support the loop arms atpoints relatively close to the loop bend.

It is to be understood that the constructions 5 which have been shownand described are presented for purposes of explanation and notlimitation and that the invention includes all equivalent constructionswithin the bounds of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a surgical appliance, the combination of a filiform snare memberbent intermediate its ends to form a loop with arms extending'therefrom;and a rod-shaped structure for supporting the loop comprising meanstightly holding the arms of the loop at mutually adjacent points remotefrom the loop bend and means by which the loop arms are loosely engagedand supported at mutually adjacent points relatively close to the bendof the loop for bending and twisting movement.

2. A surgical appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which the supportingstructure for the loop comprises a part with a cylindrical recess and atubular member telescoped in the recess with the arms of the loop memberextended through and loosely enclosed in the tubular member and theirends bent back on the outer surface of the tubular member and clampedbetween said member i and the recessed part of the supporting structure.

3. A surgical appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which the supportingstructure for the loop comprises a part with a cylindrical recess and atubular member telescoped in the recess with the arms of the loop memberextended through and loosely enclosed in the tubular member and theirends bent back on the outer surface of the tubular member and clampedbetween said member and the recessed part of the supporting structure,and in which the tubular member of the supporting structure is formedwith an annular shoulder which engages an opposing annular surface ofthe recessed supporting part.

4. A surgical appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which the supportingmeans for the loop comprises a tubular member in the bore of which thetwo arms of the loop member are loosely enclosed with freedom for thebending and twisting movement and a part tightly clamping the arms ofthe loop to the tubular member at points remote from the bend of theloop.

THOMAS A. KRIVANEK. ROY T. KRIVANEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,386,309 Bingman Aug. 2, 19211,726,349 I-Iartsough Apr. 27, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date239,112 Switzerland Dec. 3, 1945 441,632 Germany Mar. 8, 1927

